In our school district there are three/four other charter schools and many have this form of governing board. Now one school I know for fact has had their share of problems but that's not without saying it takes a special group of parents to run a school!
The last eight years our school has been run by three Admin members and two parent reps. Well, this hasn't been working since part of the complaint procedures becomes redundant and fustrating for the complaint. Proceedures ask you to discuss the issue with the person/staff member, next step would be the supervisor, then the Principals, then the Board. Small problem, the supervisor for the teacher (esp. if they are Dept Head) is a Principal; next person would be another Principal and then you go to the Board and there are two Principals.....you honestly go no where!
THere are many other issues but this is the biggest. SO the school district has stepped in at the request of many concerned parents and staff members of the school to help resolve and rectify the issue and have an election to change the Board.
Every parent on the Board are volunteer only, as before the majority were paid. Another issue has been the meetings the Board has been able to have in the past and how issues have been decided behind closed doors with information going tothe parents at the monthly meeting with no real way to hear discussion on how an agreement was found etc. This is one of the biggest changes that all the canidates have talked about. Knowing personel issues and legal issues cannot be discussed in a public forum, day to day issues can be discussed in an open meeting. For example, our school is resposible for building repairs and the roof is 30 years old. This is an issue that will be shared as well as bid information and what the Board decideds as well as recommendations from our Building Mgr.
Many parents (a couple being orginal parents from the beginning of the school) were conserned that too many desisions were being made by Administration when this is suppose to be a school that accepts parent input and encourange parent involvment more. Something our district/public schools are not really know for.
I agree, this sould be intresting and hope that the PTO will be utilized to it's full ablilities! I mean right now to volunteer in you child's room, besides the background check, you need to be requested by the teacher! Also (it gets better!) the teacher needs to submit a request to the school admin office for your help and explain WHY she needs you to staple pictures to the bulletin board in the hall or read to her students while she prepairs the next assignment sctivity! We have lost LOTS of moms because of this! I woun't have know this if the Art teacher hadn't come to the PTO for moms to help her out! Geee and guess who was nominated for President?! I'm excited, nervous, but excited to see how this will work and how the PTO can work with the school board to be the best we ALL can be!
Yesterday was the first day of elections and I will have to vent in six days when it's over. When it's all said and done I hope you all will have a new appreciation for PTO elections as much as I do!!!!
Let the fun begin!!!
....my gosh this is long...then again how do you tell this story and yadda yadda the good stuff
